Sarah+Bonda


 * SUMMARY: Sarah Bonda, age 20, died July 2, 1900 after an abortion perpetrated in Chicago by midwife Martha Heisig.**

On July 2, 1900, Mrs. Sarah Bonda, age 20, died at her home as a result of a criminal abortion performed on her there that day.

On July 6, police arrested Mrs. Martha Heisig, [|a midwife], in connection with the death. She was to be held without bail pending trial.

During transport from the Englewood police station to the county jail, Heisig asked if she could be brought home to say goodbye to her family. The officer extended this kindness, only to have Heisig commit suicide by grabbing and drinking down a vial of carbolic acid in the presence of her loved ones. She fell to the floor and died immediately.

I have been unable to find any evidence that any attention was paid to Sarah's death by the authorities or the press after Heisig's death.

Note, please, that with issues such as doctors not using proper aseptic techniques, lack of access to blood transfusions and antibiotics, and overall poor health to begin with, there was likely little difference between the performance of a legal abortion and illegal practice, and the aftercare for either type of abortion was probably equally unlikely to do the woman much, if any, good. For more about abortion and abortion deaths in the first years of the 20th century, see [|Abortion Deaths 1900-1909].

 For more on pre-legalization abortion, see[|The Bad Old Days of Abortion] Sources:

Sources:
 * [|Homicide in Chicago Interactive]
 * "Fear Caused Her Death," //Sedalia (MO) Democrat//, July 6, 1900
 * "Drank Poison Before Family," //Ottawa (KS) Evening Herald//, July 6, 1900

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